UVa’s Men’s Basketball’s Historic Season Reaches New Heights This Weekend Against Syracuse

Last night, #12 UVa’s men’s basketball team cruised to their 12th straight victory and 15th in the last 16 games. The Cavaliers now have a 15-1 ACC record and are in first place by 1.5 games over #4 Syracuse, which comes into Charlottesville on Saturday. The Wahoo’s can extend their magical season by claiming their 2nd outright ACC title ever with a win. Here are some stats on how historic this season has been for Virginia:

• The last time they won an ACC title outright was in 1981, over 30 years ago
• It’s the first time the program has won 12 straight ACC games since 1981-82
• UVa also improved to 19 games above .500 for the first time since 1982-83
• They won a program-record 11th ACC game by double figures.
• The Hoos have won 17 straight home ACC games, a new school record
• They have led by 19 or more in 12 of 16 ACC games

How has a team that did not make the NCAA tournament last year and was not ranked until three weeks ago able to run rampant over the toughest conference in the country? It all starts with the defense:

• The Cavaliers have the #1 defense in the country in points per game and #8 in defensive FG%
• They have held 16 straight teams below their season average for points
• The offense is balanced as well, since seven different players have led the team in scoring

The game will be nationally televised on ESPN with Dickie V doing the commentary.  It has been sold out for months with the cheapest nosebleed ticket currently going for $268 on Stubhub.  ESPN already has video breaking down the match-up: http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=10518180

The basketball game is not the only sports action in Charlottesville on Saturday though. After the game, across the street, the #4 men’s lacrosse team hosts the #6 team in the country. What rival successful lacrosse team warrants the night time matchup? You guessed it, Syracuse. Earlier in the day, UVa’s top #5 ranked baseball, tennis, and women's lacrosse teams are in action as well.  Hopefully the Hoo’s can pull out the upset to continue their historic season and confirm my prophetic tweet from last March:

HellUVa Week for Virginia Sports

Last night UVa earned a marquee win over #3 Duke 73-68 on national TV essentially clinching a spot in the big dance. Here are some of the key stats:

• The last time the Cavaliers beat a top 5 team was exactly 11 years ago, against #3 Duke.
• Duke never had the lead.
• The Blue Devils only had one offensive rebound after averaging 10 for the season.
• Joe Harris had a career high 36 points, the most for any player against Duke since 2006, and the most in the ACC this season.
• Harris is now 2^nd in the ACC in scoring, 3^rd in FG%, 3^rd in 3PT FG%, and 4^th in FT%, and is in consideration for ACC Player of the Year and has his own Twitter feed pushing for it https://twitter.com/JoeHarrisACCPOY
• This picture is in consideration for picture of the year as well.
• Akil Mitchell also had a great game with 19 points (2^nd highest this year) and 12 rebounds (2^nd highest as well).
• UVA is now 10-5 in the ACC, with 4 top 50 RPI wins, greatly improving their NCAA tournament selection chances.

Meanwhile Virginia’s men’s spring sports are undefeated so far.  #19 Baseball has started off 8-0 with a combined score of 84-19. #1 Tennis is 6-0, including the Indoor Championship against arch-rival USC.  #6 Lacrosse is 4-0, scoring a combined 62-34, with a huge matchup tonight against Syracuse. Not to be outdone, the Football team got a big boost, when they got a commitment from the #4 ranked recruit in the country as well.  Not to put too much stock in these things, but from 2002-2008 29 of the 35 top 5 rated recruits went on to become NFL starters.

Great week to be a Wahoo Fan!

Virginia Spring Sports on “ESPNU”VA

Now that the Super Bowl is over, my attention is now with UVA basketball and spring sports. While the #19 men’s basketball team is in the middle of the ACC schedule, Virginia’s spring sports are about to begin as well. The preseason #1 lacrosse team will begin their title defense against #20 Drexel 2/18 while #23 baseball hopes to return to the College World Series beginning on 2/17. Meanwhile the #2 tennis team started play last week, but takes a hiatus for the indoor championships before resuming on 2/26. Don’t worry about checking your local TV listings, because the lacrosse and baseball teams will be nationally televised on ESPN’s family of networks 15 times in the regular season with 10-20 more times possible in the postseason. Here is a quick glance of the TV schedule:

Lacrosse:

2/25-Stony Brook-ESPN3

3/4-Syracuse-ESPN

3/10-Cornell-ESPNU

3/24-Johns Hopkins-ESPNU

3/31-Maryland-ESPNU

4/7-UNC-ESPN

4/13-Duke-ESPNU

4/20-22-ACC Tourny-ESPNU

4/27-Penn-ESPN3

5/12-NCAA First Rd-ESPNU

Baseball:

3/17-FSU-ESPNU

3/18-FSU-ESPN3

3/19-FSU-ESPNU

4/9-Wake Forest-ESPNU

4/28-Miami-ESPN3

4/30-Miami-ESPNU

5/12-GT-ESPN3

Virginia is going to be on ESPNU 10 times between 3/10 and 4/30? Might as well start calling the network ESPNUVA.

Spring Sports Recap

This year’s #1 spring sports teams fared much better than last year’s edition. Last year, five of my favorite teams were ranked #1 going into the postseason and all of them choked. Luckily this year, of the four teams that made the playoffs, only one went out early. Coincidentally, the team that came in with the least expectations was the one that won a title.

The Capitals came into the playoffs as one of the hottest teams in the league and earned the top seed in the East, only to get swept in the second round to the Lightning. Despite their consecutive early exits the past two seasons, the team seems stuck in the same direction by resigning Brooks Laich to a big deal and retaining Coach Boudreau.

Over the weekend, UVA’s #1 ranked baseball team lost in extra innings to eventual back-to-back champion South Carolina after committing back to back errors, having their star pitcher go out sick, and going 0-14 with runners in scoring position. Despite the excruciating way they were eliminated, the Cavaliers had their best season ever, lasting until the final four teams.

Similarly, the UVA tennis team made the final for the first time in the programs history, but also fell short to the eventual back-to-back champion USC (California, not Carolina this time). Despite being a couple points away from pulling off the come-from behind victory, there is no reason they cannot contend for a title again next year considering they are 68-0 against opponents not named the Trojans.

Oddly enough, my spring sports team that ended up going all the way was the one with the lowest expectations; the #7 ranked lacrosse team. Luckily, there’s a chance they can bring home another trophy next season considering most of the starters will be back next year.

Even though the Cleveland Cavs and Wizards did not even make the playoffs, they got great reviews in the draft, so there is hope all around.

UVA Spring Sport Champions

Over the Memorial Day weekend, two of Virginia’s spring sports teams won titles. In Baltimore, the Cavalier men’s lacrosse team won their fifth NCAA title, while in Durham; the baseball team won its third ACC tournament crown.

In the first game of the lacrosse final four, UVa faced off against an upstart Denver squad making its first appearance on the big stage, compared to the Wahoo’s 21^st. Their inexperience showed as the Cavs jumped to a 5-2 first quarter lead and were up 13-3 at one point. After dispatching the Pioneers with a final score of 14-8, Virginia advanced to their ninth final, this time against rival Maryland.

On a sweltering hot Memorial Day, the Terrapin defense cooled off the Hoos, shutting them out in the first quarter. Despite playing in Maryland’s backyard at Ravens Stadium, the Cavaliers responded to take a 5-3 halftime lead. After the Terps rallied to tie the game at six in the fourth quarter, Virginia used their new ball control precision offense to connect on three straight goals, which sent the black and red clad fans heading for the exits with two minutes left. The nine goals scored by the Cavs were the second fewest on the year, the fewest also being against Maryland in an earlier loss.

This was the fifth title for the program, third since my freshman year in 2003, which is an absurdly high number when compared to the rest of the teams in my 100% theory. During that same span, only one of the other eleven teams have won a title (1% Colts in ‘06), and one other even made a title game (Cleveland Cavs in ’07). It gets even worse when you expand the time frame, since five of the teams have never won a title (UVa football and basketball, Cleveland Cavs, Capitals, and Nationals) and the Indians and Browns have not won in almost five decades. Maybe I should only have lacrosse jerseys and posters. This is certainly a good start.

Not to be forgotten, the UVa baseball team won their second ACC title game in three years over the weekend as well. Virginia won all four of their games in the tournament including victories over three top-20 schools. They will hope to capitalize on this momentum as they did two years ago when they won the tournament and advanced to their only College World Series. It helps that they will be the #1 overall seed and have this new shirt to wear around.

Almost a Title for UVA Spring Sports

This past week was up and down for the dominant Virginia spring sports teams. One pulled off an upset, another won and lost, while one just plain lost.

UVa’s #1 men’s tennis team headed into the NCAA Tournament this past weekend undefeated and went into their first ever title game unblemished. After cruising over Illinois and two close matches against Stanford and Ohio State, Virginia faced #2 USC in the title game. The Trojans were the two-time defending champs and knocked the Cavaliers out of the tournament last year. After going down 3-0 early, the Hoos rallied to tie the match 3-3, only to fall in the last points. Maybe UVA’s coaches need to start secretly taping USC’s practices or go Tonya Harding on their best player because their only two losses in the past 70 matches were to the Trojans.

Meanwhile on Long Island, Virginia’s men’s lacrosse team faced #2 Cornell in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament. The Big Red came into the matchup as one of the hottest teams in the country, winners of 11 in a row. Even though UVa was the last team to beat Cornell, the Wahoo’s are a different team now with the suspensions of two of their best players, and looked like it going down 4-1 early. Luckily the Cavs rallied in the 2^nd quarter with a stunning 9 unanswered goals to essentially seal the win with the 10-4 halftime lead. Not only did UVa make its fourth straight final four with the win, but coach Dom Starsia broke the record for most all-time D1 wins. Virginia faces an up and coming Denver squad this Saturday on ESPN, which has already beaten Duke and Hopkins this year, and are led by 6-time title winning coach Bill Tierney. If Virginia advances, they would face one of two arch rivals, Duke or Maryland on Memorial Day on ESPN.

Luckily flying under the radar, the #1 Hoos baseball team got swept over the weekend to North Carolina. Not only was it the first time they lost a series this season, but the Cavaliers had not been swept in three years. The ACC Tournament starts this week which will be a nice tune up for the NCAA Tournament which starts in June. Fortunately, the Cavs anemic offense against UNC (3 runs) woke up with a 13-1 mercy rule pounding of Wake Forest in the first game on Wednesday.

Let’s hope the lacrosse and baseball teams can finish their seasons on top, unlike the tennis team which almost won a title. Wait, does UVA have a horseshoes and hand grenades team?

Another Great Weekend for UVA Spring Sports

So far, so good for Virginia spring sports teams. This past weekend, UVA’s men’s tennis and men’s lacrosse teams were victorious in their opening rounds of the NCAA playoffs, while the baseball team continued their dominant season.

The #1 men’s tennis team started the NCAA tournament at home last weekend against Sacred Heart and Wake Forest. The Wahoos continued their perfect season by dispatching the Demon Deacons and Pioneers by a combined 8-1. Virginia travels to Stanford for the final four rounds, played in a six day span, beginning with Illinois on Thursday. They have won 67 of their past 68 matches and have made this sweet 16 round for the eighth consecutive year without even making the finals once. Let’s hope the eighth time’s a charm.

A couple days later at Klockner Stadium, UVA’s men’s lacrosse team prevailed in overtime against an underrated Bucknell team 13-12 in the first round of the NCAA tournament. The Bison came in with the better record and ranking but revealed their playoff inexperience by not controlling the ball and killing the clock when they were ahead in the final minutes. Despite their struggles this season, the Cavs advanced to the elite eight for the sixth time in seven seasons and next weekend will be up against #2 Cornell.

Meanwhile a hundred yards away, Virginia’s #1 baseball team completed a series victory over #16 Miami. 45-6 UVa has won all ten of their series’ this year with only #13 UNC left until the ACC and NCAA tournaments begin in a couple weeks.

Hopefully these teams can keep up their winning ways this weekend since there is no Caps or Cleveland Cavs to follow in the playoffs anymore this year.

Virginia Spring Sports Update

Since I last posted on UVA’s spring sports successes on March 30^th, the tennis and baseball teams have gone an impressive 24-2.

The #1 tennis team remained perfect on the season winning the past nine matches 46-8 against five #16 teams. Last weekend, the Hoo’s won their fifth consecutive ACC title without even losing a set. Let’s hope they keep up their winning ways and reverse their choking history in the NCAA tournament, which begins May 13^th.

Meanwhile, the #1 baseball team has gone 15-2 since their perfect game almost a month ago, including at #8 Georgia Tech. UVA is still in the middle of their ACC schedule with tough matchups against #24 Miami and #5 UNC remaining. Like the tennis team, hopefully the baseball team can complete their season with a title.

Unfortunately I do not want to discuss the lacrosse team’s fortunes, which have lost three of their last four and have dropped out of the top #10. Maybe it’s time the lacrosse team shares the good luck in the playoffs, especially since I already have a sweet tee.

Virginia Spring Sports Back at it Again

After uneventful football and basketball seasons, UVa’s more successful sports are now in full swing. Virginia’s baseball and tennis teams are ranked #1 in the country, while lacrosse was #2 last week.

The baseball team made national headlines this week due to Will Roberts' perfect game against George Washington, despite GW’s reporting. It was the first one in the program’s history, and the first time nationally in nine years. The Cavaliers took over the #1 ranking going into the Colonials game and have compiled a 25-2 record so far this season. After defeating then #4 Clemson and #4 Florida State five games to one in ACC competition earlier, the Wahoos travel to Blacksburg this weekend to take on the Hokies.

Meanwhile the tennis team is #1 and undefeated at 20-0. Yawn. Virginia has not been out of the top #2 since February 2009, over 82 matches ago. In fact, the Cavs have only lost 15 out of 149 games this season. Only six more ACC matches remain until postseason play begins.

As for the lacrosse team, it seems to be a down year for them, since they already lost two games this season. Even though the Hoos only lost by a combined three goals to Syracuse and Johns Hopkins on the road, they slipped to #6 this past week. It is the first time UVa has dropped out of the top #5 in over three seasons. The Cavaliers start their three game ACC schedule this week against Maryland at Scott Stadium.

These teams also had hot starts last year which I wrote about, but then choked in the playoffs, which I unfortunately also noted. I hope these teams reverse these trends this year.

The Five Choke Special

After UVA baseball collapsed in the super regional last night, the spring of disappointment is now complete. That’s five #1 ranked teams, zero titles.

As noted in an earlier post, the Caps had their best regular season in team history, but bowed out in the first round. The Cleveland Cavaliers won 60 games again, but were upset by the Celtics in 6 games in the second round, and might have a bigger loss if Lebron leaves.

Meanwhile, UVA’s spring sports joined the choking list. The men’s tennis team continued their trend of going nearly perfect all year only to lose in the NCAA semi-finals, taking their three year record to 102-4 with no titles. A week later, the lacrosse team lost to eventual champ Duke in the final seconds, ended a season where the only losses all year were to the Blue Devils. To end the heartbreak spring playoff runs, UVA baseball hosted their first ever super-regional and were one win away from returning to the College World Series, only to lose back to back games for the first time all year, ending their season and this torturous spring playoff season with a 11-0 embarrassing beatdown.

Well, now its time to turn to the fall. Oh, great.

Hoos Going to Finish First?

After my earlier post about UVA spring sports, I felt it was a good opportunity to catch up on the winning teams headed into their NCAA championship stretches. Let’s all hope that these teams do not meet the same fates as my favorite professional spring teams and my playoff beards.

The #1 Cavaliers lacrosse team is 15-1 and is already in the second round of the NCAA playoffs. Their only loss was to Duke a month ago, which they avenged a week later in route to an ACC title. The Hoos take on Stony Brook this Sunday at 2:30 on ESPNU. Even if they get past #8 Stony Brook (for some reason the game was chosen to be in Stony Brook, NY before the season started), Virginia will have to face either #5 Duke for the third time this year or #4 UNC for the second time. #2 seeded Syracuse already fell to Army leaving the door open for #3 Maryland and a possible third matchup against the Terrapins in the title game; as if a possible three ACC team final four on Memorial Day wasn’t enough.

Meanwhile #1 UVA baseball is cruising along at 43-9, with a 14 game winning streak and three straight ACC series sweeps. Who even needs Ryan Zimmerman or Mark Reynolds? The Hoos head south to face Miami this weekend to wrap up the regular season before the ACC tournament begins during Memorial Day weekend on FoxSports/Comcast. They will most certainly host a regional June 4^th- 7^th and hopefully a super regional June 11^th-14^thon ESPN/ESPNU.

The red headed step child of the group is the #1 tennis team, which is 37-1 and has not lost since February 6^th, 33 straight games ago. They already dispatched Navy and Wake Forest in the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament to make the round of 16 this weekend. In fact, the entire rest of the tournament is played between Friday and next Tuesday and UVa starts off by facing Duke for the third time this year. The finals will be on ESPNU on Tuesday.

Hopefully, if the Caps and Cleveland Cavs have taught me anything, it is to not get my hopes up for the top team in the league come playoff time, and maybe I’ll keep it to a playoff goatee this time around. At least UVA’s football team didn’t lose the spring game.

Yes, UVA is Good at Sports

The old saying goes, if a tree falls in the woods and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound. Well the same can apply to UVa’s spring sports. Currently, Virginia’s baseball, men’s lacrosse, and men’s tennis teams are all ranked #1 in the nation, but since they are not the popular money makers, like football and basketball, does anyone even notice?

Due to last year’s run to the College World Series last year, UVA’s baseball team started the season ranked #2 in the nation. After a 10-2 start, they are now the #1 ranked team for the first time in the team’s history. The program has also recently produced two Major League stars, Mark Reynolds, who hit 44 homeruns last year (4th in the league), and Ryan Zimmerman, who is the face of the Nationals, and was an All-Star, Silver Slugger and Gold Glover last season.

On Sunday, the men’s tennis team defeated #4 Texas 9-4 to maintain it’s #1 ranking and move its record to 17-1. Regular season losses are rare to the program in recent years. In the past three seasons, they have a 81-3 combined record, including a 63 regular season game winning streak. The program’s best player, Somdev Devvarman won two individual national titles and made the 2^nd round of the US Open last year. Despite their success, the team lost in the national championship tournament each year.

Also on Sunday, the men’s lacrosse team defeated #1 Syracuse to take over the #1 spot in a 11-10 nail biter. The program has had a winning tradition for many years with four national titles, including three in the past decade. They’ve made seven of the past ten final fours, and had a perfect season in 2006.

Unfortunately for UVA, these successful programs and sports do not get the recognition they deserve compared to the big money making sports, basketball and football. Virginia’s football and basketball programs could be called mediocre at best recently. The football team has only made one bowl game in the past four seasons while the basketball team has only made the big dance once in the past nine seasons. The football team has not even finished a season ranked in the top #25 since 2004. Both programs made coaching changes with Mike London is starting his first season at the helm of the football team this fall, while Tony Bennett just finished his first season as the basketball coach after Dave Leitao’s brief four year stint.

Meanwhile these two losing programs are the money makers, garnering the negative attention. Looking at the average attendance of each stadium, average tickets prices and average number of home games, basketball and football rake in $15-20 million a season even with falling attendance, while the max the successful spring sports can do is barely a million. In addition, the television coverage is greatly skewed contributing to the lack of pub. All of the football and two-thirds of the basketball regular season games are televised, while only half of the lacrosse, 5% of the baseball and zero tennis games make the airwaves.

Hopefully fans will learn to appreciate the national championship caliber spring teams that keep getting honored during the commercial breaks during football game blowouts.